Public Interest Groups Slam Changes to Federal Pesticide Law as Unwarranted, Dangerous and Undemocratic
Children’s Health Defense Canada was among a large group of health, environmental and public-interest organizations that opposed amendments to the to the Pest Control Products Act contained in Bill C-30 and Bill C-31.
Despite opposition from health, environmental and public-interest organizations, Bill C-30 has now passed. Critics argue the changes weaken science-based decision-making, reduce oversight of pesticides and allow political considerations to override protections for human health and the environment.
Of particular concern is the potential impact on children and unborn babies, who are especially vulnerable to pesticide exposure during critical stages of development. Scientific studies have linked pesticide exposure before and after birth to a wide range of adverse health outcomes, including neurodevelopmental disorders, developmental delays, hormonal disruption, immune system dysfunction, reproductive harm, certain cancers and other chronic health conditions. Research has also associated pesticide exposure with an increased risk of illness and death in children.
Concerns remain about what these changes could mean for the future regulation of pesticides in Canada and the protection of public health and the environment.
Watch the Instagram reel below from Safe Food Matters and visit the links to help you send comments to your MP.
The following news release was issued by the David Suzuki Foundation :
Amendments buried in Bill C-30 weaken environmental protections
June 17, 2026 — OTTAWA | TRADITIONAL AND UNCEDED TERRITORY OF THE ALGONQUIN ANISHINAABE NATION — Public interest organizations denounce amendments to Canada’s Pest Control Products Act included in the government’s omnibus financial bill, as Bill C-30 moves to the final vote in the House of Commons. The bill is being expedited through Parliament, after motions passed earlier this week curtailing debate and amendments.
The changes to Canada’s pesticide law in Bill C-30, along with others introduced in a separate budget implementation bill (C-31), represent the largest overhaul of Canada’s pesticide regulatory system in a generation. This comes as the government is also proposing to weaken key environmental standards under the Species at Risk Act and Impact Assessment Act. A broad coalition of organizations concerned with protecting human health and the environment, advocates for evidence-informed decision-making, and independent scientists have called for the pesticide act amendments to be removed from the omnibus bills, highlighting that there was no consultation or opportunity for study by Parliament’s health and environment committees.
The Senate Committee charged with studying Bill C-30 also noted in its report, “Given the significance and potential repercussions of these changes [to the Pest Control Products Act], the committee believes they should have warranted a separate study rather than being included in an omnibus bill.”
The Pest Control Products Act was passed in 2002. Its primary purpose is to protect human health and the environment. However, the C-30 amendments grant cabinet broad authority to overrule the Health Minister and permit the use of a pesticide found to have unacceptable environmental risks. The amendments will also require Health Canada to consider “economic security” and “food security” when making decisions about pesticide registration, without specifying definitions or processes for doing so.
The groups reiterate their opposition to these measures and call for them to be revoked.
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Supporting organizations:
Association pour la santé publique du Québec (ASPQ) / Victimes des pesticides du Québec
Action cancer du sein du Québec / Breast Cancer Action Quebec
Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE)
Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN)
Canadian Environmental Law Association
Canadian Public Health Association
Children’s Health Defense Canada
Citizen Science Nova Scotia
Council of Canadians – Edmonton Chapter
Earth Education League
Ecojustice
Environmental Defence
Équiterre
Evidence for Democracy
Friends of Earth Canada
Friends of Goldsmith Lake Wilderness Area
GMO Free Canada
National Farmers Union
NB Lung | Poumon NB
NB Neurological Syndrome Patient Support Group
Pesticide Free Edmonton
Prevent Cancer Now
Québec Environmental Law Centre (CQDE)
Safe Food Matters Inc.
Saskatchewan Network for Alternatives to Pesticides
Save Our Old Forests Association
Stop Spraying and Clear Cutting Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia)
Toronto Non-GMO Coalition
Vigilance OGM
York Region Environmental Alliance
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